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Amnesty plan won't halt U.S. extradition

August 24, 2003|By Items compiled from Tribune news services.

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA — A Colombian government plan to grant amnesty to outlawed fighters who join peace talks would have no effect on an extradition request by the United States for two top paramilitary commanders, a senior government official said Friday.

President Alvaro Uribe, an ally of the United States in the war on drugs, Thursday introduced a bill that would reward gunmen who participate in peace talks with the government with reduced sentences or amnesty.

Uribe, who took office last year on pledges to rein in a four-decade war, has said the measure is needed to lure armed groups to the negotiating table and end a war that kills thousands every year.

Washington is seeking the extradition on drug charges of Carlos Castano and Salvatore Mancuso, the top commanders of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, an anti-leftist vigilante force. The two men are fugitives but are holding almost weekly peace talks with Uribe envoys.

Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said the legislation would only address crimes that violate Colombian law and extradition requests would be dealt with separately.

"We can't grant pardons regarding extradition requests from other legal systems. In any case, the president [Uribe] has the faculty to approve or deny the extradition," he said.

Uribe has not said whether he would extradite the pair.

The bill, which would benefit jailed combatants sentenced for crimes against humanity, could face obstacles in Congress, where even Uribe allies have voiced opposition.